United States Patent Application

Provided are recombinant DNA molecules that do not occur in nature encoding an O-acetyltransferase, vectors that direct expression of an O-acetyltransferase, recombinant host cells which express an O-acetyltransferase, methods for recombinant production of an O-acetyltransferase, methods for acetylating capsular polysaccharides, especially those of a Serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis using a recombinant O-acetyltransferase, and immunogenic compositions comprising the acetylated capsular polysaccharide.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT
[0002] This invention was made, at least in part, with funding from the National Institutes of Health (Grant No. AI40247) and the Department of Energy (Grant No. DE-FG02-93ER20097). Accordingly, the United States Government has certain rights in this invention.